For my first Polar Bear Full Moon Madness event I chose to activate Frog Lake Buttes. A modest road ski / snowshoe south of Mt Hood. It was pouring rain on our drive up the mountain, but we lucked out with some fantastic conditions that let me play HF. Radio gear: Elecraft KX2 with EFRW Yaesu FT-60r with MFJ Longranger and Signal Stick 73 de Tim N7KOM
Amateurs go where penguins fear to tread! Congratulations on braving the cold, For the SOTA activation! True dedication deserves recognition! WELL DONE!
I think I got pneumonia just watching. Looks like you had some fun. My days of skiing and hamming are long over. Could you share some details on your HF antenna & coax used? How well did the coax hold up in the cold?
Hi KL7KN, I used the K6ARK End-Fed Random Wire antenna with a 41' radiator and a 17' counterpoise. The matching unit is built directly onto the feedline, so no coax is necessary. Adams video of the build is here: Same kit can be used to make the EFRW version.
It is amazing what the right gear and the right attitude can do! Oh yes, and the youthful age doesn't hurt any either. Congrats on the successful activation - keep collecting all those experiences as they are fun to look back on later in life.
What a great time to run SOTA! Band conditions are wonderful, and it makes it a bunch easier to get contacts! Hope to get you in the log soon! Great video! Thanks! Kent K9EZ
Looks like lots of fun and a successful operation. Winter SOTA in WA with cold and snow. June FD in FL with heat and thunder storms. Hard to tell which of us has the most fun. We don't have any SOTA locations here (at least that I know about) but we do have bugs and reptiles. So I guess everybody has something. hihi. 73
I finally dusted off my backpack for 2023 and activated a snowy/icy hilltop in central NH this week, earned my first ever SOTA bonus points. Hike safe y'all
Wow what a nice adventure! Always thought about doing something like this back in the day. So you winter activation really appealed to me. Nice job!!! My first QSL card from 2010/11.
